Case: Alexander v. Fulton County, Ga.

1:93-cv-02131 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Filed Date: Sept. 17, 1993

Closed Date: 2001

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 17, 1993, eighteen white current and former employees of the sheriff's department filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Fulton County, Georgia. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel alleged racial discrimination. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that Fulton County and the sheriff had intentionall…

On September 17, 1993, eighteen white current and former employees of the sheriff's department filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Fulton County, Georgia. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel alleged racial discrimination. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that Fulton County and the sheriff had intentionally discriminated on the basis of race with respect to discipline, promotions, transfers, reclassifications, promotional examinations, restorations of rank, and appointments to unclassified positions.

On April 15, 1994, the court (Judge G. E. Tidwell) certified a class consisting of all past, present, and future sworn white employees of Fulton City Sheriff's Department who alleged discriminatory acts by defendants within the applicable limitations period. On May 3, 1996, a jury trial began. On June 12, 1996, the jury awarded damages to fifteen of the eighteen plaintiffs. On July 8, 1996, the plaintiffs moved to amend the judgment, requesting injunctive relief and back pay. On July 10, 1996, the court (Judge Hunt) vacated the judgment and the court entered a modified judgment for damages, back pay, individual equitable relief, and class-based injunctive relief. On September 6, 1996 the court (Judge Hunt) decertified the action as a class action for damages and ordered $1,000,000 compensatory and punitive damages, plus injunctive relief and attorneys' fees. Alexander v. Fulton County, 207 F.3d 1303 (11th Cir. 2000).

The defendants appealed the case to the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The court (Judge Marcus) affirmed most of the district court's ruling, but reversed it in part because "evidence presented at trial was sufficient to sustain some, but not all, jury verdicts on employees' numerous individual claims." and remanded the case. Alexander v. Fulton County, 207 F.3d 1303, (11th Cir. 2000).

According to the PACER docket, on August 8, 2000, the court (Judge Hunt) ordered that the mandate of the United States Court of Appeals was also the judgment of the district court. On April 10, 2001, the district court terminated the case. This occurred following orders granting the plaintiffs attorneys' fees and a judgment in the amount of $625,000.

Summary Authors

Emily Kuznick (4/9/2008)

People


Judge(s)

Anderson, Robert Lanier III (Georgia)

Hancock, James Hughes (Alabama)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Forsling, Susan Barker (Georgia)

Golan, Linda Bodenstein (Georgia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Bonnie, John C. (Georgia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:93-cv-02131

Docket

Alexander v. Fulton County

Sept. 13, 2002

Sept. 13, 2002

Docket

97-08189

Opinion

Alexander v. Fulton County, GA

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

March 30, 2000

March 30, 2000

Order/Opinion

207 F.3d 207

Docket

Last updated March 20, 2024, 3:14 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Georgia

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 17, 1993

Closing Date: 2001

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

eighteen white current and former employees of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Fulton County, GA, County

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

42 U.S.C. § 1981

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Damages

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Confession of Judgment

Issues

General:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Discipline

Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)

Promotion

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

White

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Male